Two oil chamber counterweight

ABSTRACT

A counterweight for use in a cone crusher that includes an inner oil chamber and an outer oil chamber to collect lubricating oil during operation of the cone crusher. The counterweight includes a vertical separating wall that receives a splash shield. The vertical separating wall and splash shield define an inner oil chamber while an outer oil chamber is defined by the splash shield, the vertical separating wall and an inner wall of the counterweight. Both the inner and outer oil chambers include drain holes that allow lubricating oil to pass through a generally horizontal floor of the counterweight. The combination of the inner and outer oil chambers allows oil to quickly exit the counterweight into the main oil sump and reduces the amount of oil that gets exposed to the upper seal assembly which reduces the passage of oil past seal assemblies formed in the cone crusher.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to rock crushing equipment.More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cone crusherincluding a counterweight that rotates along with an eccentric andincludes two separate oil chambers.

Rock crushing systems, such as those referred to as cone crushers,generally break apart rock, stone or other material in a crushing gapbetween a stationary element and a moving element. For example, aconical rock crusher is comprised of a head assembly including acrushing head that gyrates about a vertical axis within a stationarybowl indirectly attached to a main frame of the rock crusher. Thecrushing head is assembled surrounding an eccentric that rotates about afixed main shaft to impart the gyrational motion of the crushing headwhich crushes rock, stone or other material in a crushing gap betweenthe crushing head and the bowl. The eccentric can be driven by a varietyof power drives, such as an attached gear, driven by a pinion andcountershaft assembly, and a number of mechanical power sources, such aselectrical motors or combustion engines.

The exterior of the conical crushing head is covered with a protectiveor wear-resistant mantle that engages the material that is beingcrushed, such as rock. stone, or other material. The bowl, which isindirectly mechanically fixed to the main frame, is fitted with a bowlliner. The bowl liner and bowl are stationary and spaced from thecrushing head. The bowl liner provides an opposing surface from themantle for crushing the material. The material is crushed in thecrushing gap between the mantle and the bowl liner.

The gyrational motion of the crushing head with respect to thestationary bowl crushes rock, stone or other material within thecrushing gap. Generally, the rock, stone or other material is fed onto afeed plate that directs the material toward the crushing gap where thematerial is crushed as it travels through the crushing gap. The crushedmaterial exits the crushing chamber through the bottom of the crushinggap. The size of the crushing gap determines the maximum size of thecrushed material that exits the crushing gap.

In currently available cone crushers, a supply of lubricating oil isdirected to the bushing located between the eccentric and the stationarymain shaft and to the bushing located between the head assembly and theeccentric. The lubricating oil drains through holes that are formed inthe crushing head and eventually drops onto a moving counterweight thatis attached to the eccentric. As the rotational speed of the eccentricand the attached counterweight increases, oil is flung around theinterior of the counterweight. Some of this oil may escape out throughseals within the cone crusher, which can result in the need forreplacing the lost oil.

The counterweight has two main functions in a cone crusher. First, thecounterweight functions to balance the centrifugal forces of the headand eccentric. Second, the counterweight functions to create a path andseal oil between the gyrating head and the stationary main frame.

Often, positive pressure air is added to the internals of the conecrusher to keep dust from being pulled in through the seals. Thepositive air pressure can amplify oil leakage in current designs.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a counterweight for use in rockcrushing equipment, such as a cone crusher. The counterweight includestwo separate oil chambers that receive lubricating oil and direct thelubricating oil to an oil sump.

The counterweight of the present disclosure is for use with a conecrusher that includes a stationary bowl. A head assembly is positionedfor movement within the stationary bowl to create a crushing gap betweenthe stationary bowl and the head assembly. The head assembly includes acrushing head and mantle. The head assembly is received around aneccentric that is in turn rotatable about a stationary main shaft. Theconfiguration of the eccentric causes the head assembly to gyrate withinthe stationary bowl upon rotation of the eccentric around the mainshaft.

The counterweight constructed in accordance with the present disclosureis mounted to the eccentric and rotates with the eccentric. Thecounterweight includes both an inner oil chamber and an outer oilchamber that each receive lubricating oil and direct the lubricating oilto a main oil sump of the cone crusher.

The eccentric includes a generally horizontal floor that extends from aninner edge to an outer edge. A vertical separating wall extends from thegenerally horizontal floor and is positioned at a location between theinner edge and the outer edge. The vertical separating. wall separatesthe inner oil chamber from the outer oil chamber.

A splash shield is mounted to the vertical separating wall and ispositioned to overhang at least a portion of the horizontal floor thatis radially inward from the vertical separating wall. The splash shieldfurther separates the inner oil chamber from the outer oil chamber anddefines an upper barrier for the inner oil chamber as well as a lowerbarrier for the outer oil chamber. In one embodiment of the disclosure,the splash shield is formed from a plurality of shield plates that areeach separately attached to the vertical separating wall. The splashshield extends around the entire internal circumference of thecounterweight such that the inner oil chamber also extends around theentire circumference of the counterweight. The inner oil chamberincludes a plurality of spaced inner chamber drain holes that allow oilto pass through the floor of the counterweight.

The counterweight further includes an outer oil chamber that is formedbetween the vertical separating wall and an inclined inner wall of thecounterweight. The outer oil chamber is spaced radially outward relativeto the inner oil chamber and separated from the inner oil chamber by thevertical separating wall and the splash shield. The outer oil chamberincludes a plurality of spaced outer chamber drain holes that allow oilto pass from the outer oil chamber through the counterweight floor andinto the main sump of the cone crusher. The outer chamber also extendsthe circumference of the counterweight.

An outer end of the splash shield is attached to the separating wallwhile an inner end of the splash shield is closely spaced to an outersurface of the crushing head. The small gap created between the crushinghead and the inner end of the splash shield entraps most of the drainedlubricating oil within the inner oil chamber. The portion of oil or oilmist that escapes through the gap between the splash shield and thecrushing head is directed into contact with a head skirt. The head skirtis positioned to direct oil or the oil mist away from the seal betweenthe counterweight and the crushing head such that the oil can be drainedfrom the counterweight through the drain holes formed in the outer oilchamber.

The combination of the inner and outer oil chambers collects and drainsthe lubricating oil and prevents the lubricating oil from passingthrough the seal assemblies between the counterweight and the crushinghead. The splash shield that forms a part of the inner oil chamberquickly directs most of the oil into the sump and greatly reduces theamount of oil that contacts the inclined inner wall of thecounterweight, thereby reducing the amount of oil loss. The splashshield is constructed of multiple shield plates such that the splashshield can be easily assembled within the interior of the counterweight.

Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will bemade apparent from the following description taken together with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carryingout the disclosure. In the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a section view of a cone crusher incorporating thecounterweight of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a magnified section view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating theflow of lubricating oil within the cone crusher.

FIG. 3 is a further magnified view illustrating the inner and outer oilchambers created by the counterweight of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a further magnified view similar to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the movement of oil withinthe inner and outer oil chambers of the counterweight;

FIG. 6 is a bottom section view illustrating the oil in both the inneroil chamber and the outer oil chamber;

FIG. 7 illustrates the inner and outer oil chambers aligned with thethick side of the eccentric;

FIG. 8 is a top section view of the counterweight;

FIG. 9 is a bottom section view of the counterweight;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view illustrating the counterweight;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the counterweight; and

FIG. 12 is a partial section view with the splash plate removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a section view of a cone crusher 10 that is operableto crush material, such as rock, stone, ore, minerals or othersubstances. The cone crusher 10 includes a main frame 12 having amounting flange 14. The cone crusher 10 can be any size rock crusher orinclude any type of crusher head. Mounting flange 14 rests upon aplatform-like foundation that can include concrete piers (not shown), afoundation block, a platform or other supporting member. A central hub16 of the main frame 12 includes an upwardly diverging vertical bore ortapered bore 18. The bore 18 is adapted to receive a main shaft 20. Themain shaft 20 is held stationary in the bore 18 with respect to thecentral hub 16 of the frame 12.

The main shaft 20 radially supports an eccentric 22 that surrounds themain shaft 20. The head assembly 24 is supported on the top end of themain shaft 20. The eccentric 22 rotates about the stationary main shaft20, thereby causing the head assembly 24 to gyrate within the conecrusher 10. Gyration of the head assembly 24 within a bowl 26 that isdirectly fixed to an adjustment ring 28 supported by the main frame 12allows rock, stone, ore, minerals or other materials to be crushedbetween a mantle 30 and a bowl liner 32. The gyrational motion of thehead assembly 24 crushes rock in a crushing gap 34 and the force ofgravity causes additional material to move toward the crushing gap 34.The bowl liner 32 is held against the bowl 26 by a wedge 44 and themantle 30 is attached to a crushing head of the head assembly 24. Thegyrational movement of the head assembly 24 forces the mantle 30 towardthe bowl liner 32 to create the rock crushing force within the crushinggap 34.

As can be understood in FIG. 1, when the cone crusher 10 is operating,drive shaft 40 rotates the eccentric 22 through the interaction betweenthe pinion 38 and the gear 42. Since the outside diameter of theeccentric 22 is offset from the inside diameter, the rotation of theeccentric 22 creates the gyrational movement of the head assembly 24within the stationary bowl 26. The gyrational movement of the headassembly 24 changes the size of the crushing gap 34 which allows thematerial to be crushed to enter into the crashing gap. Further rotationof the eccentric 22 creates the crushing force within the crushing gap34 to reduce the size of particles being crushed by the cone crusher 10.The cone crusher 10 can be one of many different types of cone crushersavailable from various manufacturers, such as Metso Minerals ofWaukesha, Wis. As an example, the cone crusher 10 shown in FIG. 1 can bean MP® series rock crusher, such as the MP®2500 available from MetsoMinerals. However, different types of cone crushers could be utilizedwhile operating within the scope of the present disclosure.

During operation of the cone crusher 10, material is crushed by thegyrating movement of the head assembly 24 in the crushing gap 34 formedbetween the outer surface of the mantle 30 and the bowl liner 32. Boththe bowl liner 32 and the mantle 30 are designed as replaceableequipment such that the cone crusher can be refurbished upon wear.

The cone crusher 10 includes an oil lubrication system that provides asupply of lubricating oil between the moving components within the conecrusher. The lubrication system includes an inlet 46 that receives asupply of lubricating oil. The inlet 46 directs lubricating oil to acentral passage 48 that extends through the center of the main shaft 20.The central passage 48 extends to the top end 50 of the main shaft 20where the oil leaves the main shaft 20 and lubricates the gyrationalpoint of contact between the head ball 52 and the socket liner 54. Thelubricating oil distributed through the top end 50 of the main shaft 20pools within an upper sump 56 and passes through the lower portion 58 ofthe crushing head 36 through a series of drain holes 60.

In addition to the central passage 48, the main shaft 20 includes aradial passage 62 that distributes lubricating oil between the rotatingeccentric 22 and the main shaft 20 and between the crushing head 36 andthe eccentric.

The lubricating oil passes through the crushing head 36 and is collectedwithin a main frame oil sump 64, which in turn is drained through alubrication outlet 66. The lubrication outlet 66 directs the lubricatingoil back to a pumping, cooling and filtering system where thelubricating oil is filtered and supplied back to the inlet 46 forredistribution within the cone crusher.

FIG. 2 illustrates the flow of lubricating oil through the centralpassageway 48, as illustrated by a series of arrows. As described, thelubricating oil exits the top end 50 of the main shaft 20 and lubricatesthe head ball 52 and socket liner 54. There is also oil from end leakagefrom the eccentric to the main shaft bushing and crushing head to theeccentric bushing. The oil then flows into the upper sump 56. The oilcollected within the upper sump 56 passes through the series of drainholes 60 formed in the lower portion 58 of the crushing head 36. The oilleaving the lower end of each of the drain holes 60 falls onto a radialflange 68 of the eccentric 22 or onto the floor 84 of the counterweight70.

Since the eccentric 22 is rotating at a relatively high rate of speed,oil falling onto the radial flange 68 is flung radially outward and intocontact with the counterweight 70 that is securely attached to androtatable with the eccentric 22. In accordance with the presentdisclosure, the counterweight 70 includes a pair of oil chambers, to bedescribed below, that each include separate drain holes that allow theoil to pass through the counterweight and be collected Within the mainframe oil sump 64.

FIG. 10 is an isometric, view of the counterweight 70 constructed inaccordance with the present disclosure. The counterweight 70 is agenerally cylindrical component that is mounted to the eccentric forrotation with the eccentric. The counterweight assembly 70 balances theeccentric and crushing head. The counterweight 70 includes a series oftanks 72 formed on a heavy side 74 of the counterweight. The light side76 of the counterweight does not include any tanks. When thecounterweight 70 is mounted to the eccentric, the heavy side 74 isaligned with the thin side of the eccentric while the light side 76 ofthe counterweight 70 is aligned with the thick side of the eccentric.The series of tanks 72 are typically filled with dense material, such aslead or tungsten rods, to provide the required weighting for the heavyside 74. A cover 78 is attached to the upper surface 80 of thecounterweight 70 through a series of individual fasteners 82. The cover78 is attached to the counterweight 70 after each of the tanks 72 arefilled with the weighted material to protect the counterweight 70 fromwear. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the cover 78 is formed fromwelding a flat top plate 79 to a depending cylindrical bottom plate 81.However, the cover 78 could be formed as a complete, unitary component.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are upper and lower cross-sectional views of thecounterweight 70. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the counterweight 70includes a generally horizontal floor 84 that extends radially outwardfrom an inner edge 86 to an outer edge 88. A recessed mounting groove 90is formed in the floor 84 and receives a T-seal 92, which in turn isreceived within a U-seal 94 mounted to the main frame . Thecounterweight further includes a lower vertical flange 96 that extendsvertically below the floor 84.

The horizontal floor 84 includes a series of attachment holes 98positioned near the inner edge 86. The attachment holes 98 allow theentire counterweight 70 to be attached to the eccentric for rotationwith the eccentric.

The counterweight 70 further includes a vertical separating wall 100that extends upward from the horizontal floor 84 at a location betweenthe inner edge 86 and an inner wall 102. As illustrated in FIG. 8, theinner wall 102 extends both upwardly and inwardly relative to thehorizontal floor 84. The inner wall 102 defines the height of thecounterweight and supports a U-seal 104, as best illustrated in FIG. 9.The U-seal 104 interacts with a mating T-seal 106 formed in a groove 108formed in the crushing head 36, as best shown in FIG. 5.

Referring back to FIG. 8, a splash shield 110 is mounted to the verticalseparating wall 100 and extends over a portion of the horizontal floor84. In the embodiment illustrated, the splash shield 110 is formed frommultiple sections that are joined to each other. The use of multiplesections to form the splash shield 110 facilitates the ease ofinstallation since each of the separate sections can be individuallyplaced within the counterweight 70 prior to attachment to each other toform the splash shield 110. The multi-section splash shield 110 is alsorequired due to the geometry of the counterweight 70. Specifically, thetop opening of the counterweight 70 is smaller in diameter than thediameter of the vertical separating wall 100 that supports the splashshield 110. Thus, forming the splash shield in multiple sections isrequired in the embodiment illustrated. The splash shield 110 includes aseries of outer fasteners 112 that each are received within a bore 114formed in the vertical separating wall 100. A series of inner fasteners116 are used to attach the separate sections that form the splash shield110.

Although a series of inner fasteners 116 are illustrated to attach theseparate sections of the splash shield 110, it is contemplated thatother attachment methods could be utilized while operating within thescope of the present disclosure. As an example, the splash shieldsections could be joined using other types of hardware, welding orattachment methods. Additionally, although the embodiment illustratesmounting the splash shield sections to the vertical separated wall 100,it is contemplated that the vertical separating wall and splash shieldsections could be integrally molded and the integrally molded piecewould be bolted to the horizontal floor 84.

When the splash shield 110 is mounted to the vertical separating wall100, an outer end 118 of the splash shield is generally aligned with theoutermost surface of the vertical separating wall 100. An inner end 120of the splash shield 110 extends radially inward, as shown in FIG. 9. Ascan be understood in FIG. 9, the inner end 120 is spaced radially inwardfrom the inner edge 86 of the floor 84. The combination of the floor 84,the vertical separating wall 100 and the splash shield 110 define aninner oil chamber 122.

As further illustrated in FIG. 9, the inner wall 102, the splash shield110 and the vertical separating wall 100 combine to define an outer oilchamber 124. The inner and outer oil chambers are thus separated by thevertical separating wall 100 and the splash shield 110. The outer oilchamber 124 includes an open upper end 126 that allows oil to enter intothe outer oil chamber 124, as will be described.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 11, the floor 84 of the counterweight 70includes a series of drain holes that allow oil to pass through thefloor and be drained out of the cone crusher. Specifically, the floorincludes a series of spaced inner chamber drain holes 128 and a secondseries of outer chamber drain holes 130. The inner and outer chamberdrain holes 128, 130 are located on opposite sides of the verticalseparating wall 100, as best shown in FIG. 8. The inner chamber drainholes 128 allow oil accumulated within the inner oil chamber 122 todrain through the counterweight while the outer chamber drain holes 130allows oil accumulated within the outer oil chamber to also drainthrough the counterweight 70. Although the inner and outer oil chamberdrain holes 128, 130 are shown in FIG. 9 as being generally aligned witheach other and separated by solid divider 131, it should be understoodthat the spacing between the inner chamber drain holes 128 and the outerchamber drain holes 130 could be varied while operating within the scopeof the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the position of the counterweight 70 relativeto the crushing head 36 along the thin side of the eccentric 22. Asdiscussed previously, the drain holes 60 deposit oil collected from theupper sump 56 onto the radial flange 68 of the eccentric 22 and thehorizontal floor of the counterweight 84. The counterweight 70 isattached to the radial flange 68 through the series of fasteners 132. Inthis position, the inner oil chamber 122 receives the oil from the drainholes 60 that is flung radially outward by the rotating eccentric 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the inner end 120 of the splash shield 110 isvery closely spaced relative to the surface 134 of the crushing head 36.The close spacing between the inner end 120 of the splash shield 110 andthe surface 134 greatly restricts the amount of oil that can splash overthe splash shield 110. As stated previously, the inner oil chamber isgenerally defined by the splash shield 110, the floor 84 and thevertical separating wall 100. During operation, oil flung radiallyoutward by the rotating eccentric 22 is entrapped within the inner oilchamber 122 and quickly drains through the series of inner chamber drainholes 128. Since the oil is forced radially outward by the centrifugalforce created by the rotating eccentric 22, the inner chamber dram oilholes 128 are positioned as close as possible to the vertical separatingwall 100 to prevent oil from pooling within the inner oil chamber 122.The oil drained through the inner chamber drain holes 128 passes throughthe counterweight and is ultimately collected within the main frame oilsump 64.

During high speed operation of the cone crusher, the eccentric 22 isrotating at a relatively high speed which causes oil being drainedthrough the drain holes 60 to be thing into the inner oil chamber 122.This oil can create very small particles of oil or a mist that may notbe entrapped and contained within the inner oil chamber 122. Thisadditional oil is then received within the outer oil chamber 124. Theouter oil chamber 124 is defined as the area above the splash shield 110and between the vertical separating wall 100 and the inner wall 102 ofthe counterweight 70. Any oil received within the outer oil chamber 124collects and is drained out of the outer oil chamber through the outerchamber drain holes 130. As described above, since the eccentric 22 isrotating, any oil received within the outer oil chamber 124 is forcedradially outward through the centrifugal force created by the rotatingeccentric. Thus, the outer chamber drain holes 130 are positionedadjacent the inclined inner wall 102 of the counterweight 70 to helpeliminate pooling of the oil within the counterweight. The oil drainedthrough the outer chamber drain holes 130 is also directed to the mainframe oil sump 64 by the vertical flange 96. The flange 96 protects thelower seal formed between the T-seal 92 mounted to the counterweight andthe U-seal 94 mounted to the main flame 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a head skirt 136 is mounted to the crushinghead 36 to further deflect oil away from the seal created by the U-seal104 and the T-seal 106. The head skirt 136 is attached to the crushinghead 36 through a series of spaced connectors, such as bolts. Althoughthe head skirt 136 deflects the oil-air mist away from the seals 104,106, the head skirt 136 may not be required depending upon the closespacing between the inner end 120 of the splash shield 110 and thesurface 134 of crushing head 36, which controls how much oil enters theouter oil chamber 124 and the direction and velocity at which the oilenters the outer oil chamber 124.

FIG. 5 illustrates the general flow of lubricating oil within both theinner oil chamber 122 and the outer oil chamber 124. As previouslydescribed, lubricating oil from the drain hole 60 contacts the radialflange 68 of the eccentric 22 and the floor 84 of the counterweight andenters into the inner oil chamber 122. The oil within the inner chamber122 is entrapped by the generally horizontal splash shield 110 and thevertical separating wall 100. This collected oil drains through theinner chamber drain holes 128 and ultimately travels to the main frameoil sump. Although most of this oil is captured in the inner oil chamber122, an oil-air mist may pass between the slight gap formed between theinner end 120 of the splash shield 110 and the surface 134. This oilmist contacts the head skirt 136 and is directed downward onto the uppersurface of the splash shield 110. The rotational movement of theeccentric and counterweight cause this small amount of oil to be flungradially outward and into contact with the inclined inner wall 102. Theoil quickly drains out through the outer chamber drain holes 130positioned on the opposite side of the vertical separating wall 100 fromthe inner chamber drain holes 128. In this manner, the oil from both theinner chamber drain holes 128 and the outer chamber drain holes 130 movetoward the main frame oil sump.

FIG. 6 clearly illustrates the position of the outer chamber drain holes130 and the inner chamber drain holes 128 on the opposite sides of thevertical separating wall 100. The lower portion of the verticalseparating wall 100 forms the divider 131 between the drain holes 128and 130. Further, FIG. 6 illustrates the separation between the inneroil chamber 122 and the outer oil chamber 124.

FIG. 7 illustrates the inner and outer chambers relative to the thickside of the eccentric 22. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the radial width ofthe splash plate 110 is less at the location aligned with the thickportion of the eccentric as compared to the thin portion of theeccentric shown in FIG. 3 due to the increased eccentric thickness.However, the splash shield 110 still combines with the verticalseparating wall 100 to define the inner oil chamber 122. The outer oilchamber 124 is positioned on an opposite side of the vertical separatingwall 100. Oil from drain holes 60 in this position drops directly ontothe horizontal counterweight floor 84.

FIG. 12 illustrates that the height of the vertical separating wall 100changes from the heavy side 74 to the light side 76 of the counterweight70. Since the heavy side 74 of the counterweight 70 is aligned with thethin side of the eccentric, the height of the vertical separating wall100 changes to accommodate the configuration of the eccentric and theresulting position of the head.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the inventionis defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do notdiffer from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral languages of the claims.

I claim:
 1. A cone crusher comprising: a stationary bowl; a headassembly positioned for movement within the stationary bowl to create acrushing, gap between the stationary bowl and the head assembly, thehead assembly including a crushing head; an eccentric assembly rotatableabout a main shaft to impart movement to the head assembly; and acounterweight mounted to the eccentric assembly for rotation with theeccentric assembly, the counterweight having an inner oil chamber and anouter oil chamber separated by a vertical separating wall.
 2. The conecrusher of claim 1 wherein the inner and outer oil chambers each includea horizontal floor, wherein the vertical separating wall extends fromthe floor.
 3. The cone crusher of claim 2 wherein the inner oil chamberincludes a plurality of spaced inner chamber drain holes and the outeroil chamber includes a plurality of spaced outer chamber drain holes. 4.The cone crusher of claim 2 further comprising a splash shield mountedto the vertical separating wall and positioned to overhang at least aportion of the horizontal floor in the inner oil chamber.
 5. The conecrusher of claim 4 wherein the splash shield is continuous over 360°. 6.The cone crusher of claim 5 wherein the splash shield is formed from aplurality of shield . plates each separately attached to the separatingwall.
 7. The cone crusher of claim 4 wherein the splash shield includesan inner end closely spaced from the head assembly and an outer endattached to the separating wall.
 8. The cone crusher of claim 7 whereinthe outer oil chamber is defined by the separating wall, the splashshield and a counterweight inside wall, wherein the outer end of thesplash shield is spaced from the counterweight inside wall such that theouter oil chamber is open opposite the horizontal floor.
 9. The conecrusher of claim 4 further comprising a head skirt depending from thecrushing head and positioned above the splash shield.
 10. The conecrusher of claim 1 wherein the crushing head of the assembly includesplurality of head drain holes that are each in fluid communication withthe inner oil chamber.
 11. The cone crusher of claim 1 furthercomprising an oil lubrication system operable to deliver lubricating oilwithin the head assembly, wherein the plurality of head drain holesreceives at least a portion of the lubricating oil.
 12. A cone crushercomprising: a stationary bowl; a head assembly positioned for gyrationalmovement within the stationary bowl to create a variable crushing gapwith the stationary bowl, the head assembly including a crushing head;an eccentric assembly rotatable about a main shaft to impart gyrationalmovement to the head assembly within the bowl; a counterweight mountedto the eccentric assembly for rotation with the eccentric assembly, thecounterweight including a vertical separating wall extending from ahorizontal floor to define and separate an inner oil chamber and anouter oil chamber; and a splash shield having a radial outer end mountedto the vertical separating wall such that the splash shield overhangs atleast a portion of the horizontal floor to further separate the inneroil chamber and the outer oil chamber.
 13. The cone crusher of claim 12wherein the splash shield includes an inner end positioned adjacent tothe crushing head of the head assembly.
 14. The cone crusher of claim 13wherein the outer oil chamber is defined by the separating wall, thesplash shield and a counterweight inside all wherein the outer end ofthe splash shield is spaced from the counterweight inside wall such thatthe outer oil chamber is open opposite the horizontal floor.
 15. Thecone crusher of claim 12 wherein the splash shield is formed from aplurality of individual shield plates each attached to the separatingwall.
 16. The cone crusher of claim 15 wherein the splash shield iscontinuous and extends 360°.
 17. The cone crusher of claim 12 whereinthe inner oil chamber includes a plurality of spaced inner chamber drainholes and the outer oil chamber includes a plurality of spaced outerchamber spaced drain holes.
 18. A counterweight for use with a conecrusher, the counterweight comprising: a horizontal floor extendingbetween an inner edge and an outer edge; a vertical separating wallextending horn the horizontal floor and positioned between the outeredge and the inner edge of the floor; a splash shield having a radialouter end mounted to the vertical separating wall and an inner endextending toward the inner edge of the floor to define an inner oilchamber; an inner wall extending from the floor and positioned radiallyoutward from the vertical separating wall, wherein the inner wall, thesplash shield and the vertical separating wall define an outer oilchamber; a plurality of spaced inner chamber drain holes extendingthrough the floor and positioned within the inner oil chamber; and aplurality of spaced outer chamber drain holes extending through thefloor and positioned in the outer oil chamber.
 19. The counterweight ofclaim 18 wherein the splash shield is formed from a plurality of shieldplates each separately attached to the separating wall.
 20. Thecounterweight of claim 19 wherein the splash shield is continuous andextends 360°.